Kent Center School Scholarship Fund
What is the KCS Scholarship Fund?
History of the fund
Message from the president:
The Kent Center School Scholarship Fund, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing scholarships for worthy graduates of Kent Center School. As higher education costs have increased, the Board of Directors have worked hard to increase individual awards, as well as the total amount of money in the fund. The funds awarded each year are a combination of recent contributions and interest from the endowment fund.
Dear Friends and Former Students:
I hope you are enjoying our new Kent Center School Scholarship Fund website.
Our Scholarship Fund will soon be entering its 63rd year. As the letter and brochure tell you, we have helped many KCS graduates. We continue to provide help to dozens of students each year. Unlike many scholarships, the KCS Scholarship is available five times. We are proud of the fact that we have continued to grow for over half a century.
Our Fund Drive this year reached $66,000. It was our most successful year ever. Many of you are regular contributors to the Fund. We hope others will join you.
Perhaps your friends and family could help us. I would urge you to show them this site, and all the documents that have been posted.
Feel free to contact me. I have been retired from KCS since 2002 and still live on Lane Street where I was when you knew me. I'd love to hear from you. My e-mail address is kcsepstein@aol.com.
Thank you for your help in the past, and hopefully in the future.
Sincerely,
Ed (don't call me Mr. Epstein)
Ed Epstein
President, KCSSF
Board of Directors
Ed Epstein, President
Carol Spelbos, Vice President
Tony Iovino, Treasurer
Dana Slaughter, Secretary
Katy Armstrong
A. Richard Barber
Austi Brown
Fran Goodsell
Karen Iannucci
Carol McCann
Sue McWhinnie
Debbie Moershell
Haig Nargesian
Kathleen Robey
Maureen Smith
Lee Sohl
Ane Starr
George Woodin
Margaret Stearns - Emeritus
Tony Zunino - Emeritus
In 1961, the Kent Center School PTA formed a committee to establish a scholarship fund allocating $100 from its treasury. It then voted to add its $250 commission from the class pictures to the fund to create a $350 scholarship, the first amount in the history of the fund awarded to a student.
Slowly, as the community became more aware of the value of supporting local students, the fund grew, separating from the PTA in 1982, and becoming incorporated as the Kent Center School Scholarship Fund with nonprofit status, a board and bylaws.
Since 1961, many volunteers have made the KCSSF a strong presence, historically one of the first scholarship funds in Connecticut emanating from a K-8 school, not a high school. Local organizations have traditionally supported the general fund financially, as have members of the community. The fund is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors, comprised of nineteen members.
Applicants for scholarship awards shall be graduates of Kent Center School and shall have attended the school for a minimum of two consecutive years that shall include grades seven and eight. Recipients may reapply for scholarships to provide support during each school year for a maximum of four years. “Post secondary” education can include two and four-year college programs, as well as vocational and technical schools.
As of 2023, the scholarship fund will award a fifth year to students attending college full-time.
In 1961, one scholarship was given. Totals for various other years are as follows:
2022 - $69,900 to 28 students
2020 - $76,100 to 38 students
2017 -$66,880 to 40 students
2016 -$57,190 to 37 students
2015- $66,910 to 48 students
2014- $62,530 to 49 students
2013- $61,300 to 47 students
2012- $75,744 to 56 students
2011- $59,110 to 50 students
2010- $72,140 to 62 students
2009- $65,960 to 59 students
2008- $60,720 to 58 students
1998- $31,000 to 24 students
1989- $17,400 to 18 students
1978- $1,650 to 4 students